Question CPU unstable after installing additional M.2 SSD

[Mercious089]

I have bought a i9-14900KS around 2 months ago. I have read about the issues regarding this Intel generation, however my mainboard was also on the more expensive side and I wasn't willing to replace it yet. But I did need a CPU upgrade, since it was bottlenecking me in the content I cared about. From what I read at that time, the microcode issues should have been fixed with the latest BIOS firmware (the one dated to 01/10/2024). I had that BIOS version already installed before I even started using the CPU.

Pretty much right from the start I had to reduce the Core Multiplier down from 58 because games would crash on launch with errors that traced back to CPU issues. The crash was actually reproducible, happened every time on game launch - and was entirely solved by reducing the Multiplier by 1-2. So definitely something weird there already.

Yesterday I installed an additional M.2 SSD, never touched the CPU or anything in the process. Somehow this has caused the CPU to be completely unstable. Every application, including Windows Explorer and other completely undemanding processes constantly crash and restart themselves, browser tabs crash, pretty much every piece of software is killing itself within less than a minute, additionally also BSoDs here and there. I removed the newly installed SSD, because that seemed the most likely culprit. The issue remained exactly the same. I was kind of expecting my Windows installation next, so I created a bootable USB stick, reinstalled the new SSD and wanted to install Windows onto it. However, the Windows Installer itself also crashed, restarting the PC every single time. I removed one of the two RAM sticks (alternating both), issue remained.

So I removed the i9-14900KS and installed back the old CPU. PC runs stable now. I am a bit confused now, because it seems like such an unlikely coincidence that the CPU died at the exact time that I installed a new SSD. But per process of elimination, it kind of has to be the CPU. My PSU is a 850W Plat (BeQuiet DP 12) and since I tried running the PC without the new SSD and had the same issues, power issues can't really be the cause either.

The question: Is there anything left to try in terms of running the i9-14900KS stable? I had issues finding undervolt guides specific to the KS version and, from what I read there should be differences to the regular K version (for which there are plenty of guides). But considering how I had issues right from the start, I think I should just move on from this CPU, maybe look into RMA - and probably get a new MB + CPU (probably AMD)?

 

[Aeacus]

I am a bit confused now, because it seems like such an unlikely coincidence that the CPU died at the exact time that I installed a new SSD.

Well, based on what you described, your CPU was faulty off the bat. And another M.2 was the straw that broke camel's back. (After all, M.2 has direct PCI-E lane connection to the CPU.)

Is there anything left to try in terms of running the i9-14900KS stable?

You could try disabling a core or two. Essentially running the chip like lesser version of 14th gen chip (e.g if you'd disable 4x E-cores, you'd get i7-14700).

Now, it is impossible to tell if entire chip is bad, or only some cores. Also, it is difficult to tell if bad core is P-core or E-core and how many bad cores there are. But you can disable cores from BIOS.

But before that, take a look what JayzTwoCents is talking about 13/14th gen CPUs and how to find out if you have a bad chip:
(Could be that you have severe undervolting issue.)

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7Eyv5d2Rq8

 

[geofelt]

What is the make/model of your motherboard and it's bios level?
Is that bios date Jan 10, 2024 or October 1, 2024?
The applicable fixes for the 13/14 gen issues were close to the end of the year.
CPU-Z will identify the motherboard and bios level.

Did you select some motherboard bios default such as load optimized bios settings?
That might have resulted in some sort of overclocking.

Did you purchase the 14900K from an authorized seller new?
If you bought used, it might have been damaged by the previous owner.

 

[Mercious089]

Well, based on what you described, your CPU was faulty off the bat. And another M.2 was the straw that broke camel's back. (After all, M.2 has direct PCI-E lane connection to the CPU.)

I see, so at least it makes some sense why the M.2 installation could affect it.

You could try disabling a core or two. Essentially running the chip like lesser version of 14th gen chip (e.g if you'd disable 4x E-cores, you'd get i7-14700).

Uff, yeah that sounds pretty complicated. I am also not sure if messing around with BIOS settings would cause issues with the RMA process. I think I will just go the route of new MB+CPU.

But before that, take a look what JayzTwoCents is talking about 13/14th gen CPUs and how to find out if you have a bad chip:

Even with XMP off and everything, I can't even run any of the Software programs he mentions for long enough before they crash. I think that in itself is probably already answer enough. But definitely interesting to see how one would go about testing the "healthyness" of CPUs in general, I will remember that for the future. This would probably have been a good thing to do when I first got the CPU, would have been interesting to know but too late now.

What is the make/model of your motherboard and it's bios level?
Is that bios date Jan 10, 2024 or October 1, 2024?

It's a MPG Z690 Carbon Wifi, the BIOS Version is definitely from October, not January. I remember specifically checking the version, which mentioned updating the Microcode to 0x12B, which was the number look out for at the time I checked. Seems like there are now even two never versions that also bring Microcode updates, but I am not sure if it's even worth trying to see if they do anything to fix the problem. I am bit fed up from the CPU removal process by know haha.

Did you select some motherboard bios default such as load optimized bios settings?

Nope, for the CPU I left everything as it came. Since I was not able to find any KS specific tuning guide, I left it untouched because I am clueless about these things.

Did you purchase the 14900K from an authorized seller new?

I bought it from Alternate, which should be a reputable seller, yeah. Said nowhere that it was used, was the Boxed-Version, so should have definitely been new too. I guess just unlucky sample?

 

[geofelt]

To get a RMA from Intel, the sale must have been from an authorized Intel seller.
Hopefully your reputable dealer will accept it.
Did you notice anything about the packaging that might have indicated that it had been opened before?
Some dishonest employees have been known to swap bad processors for good.

 

[USAFRet]

I bought it from Alternate, which should be a reputable seller, yeah.

Link to this?

 

[Mercious089]

To get a RMA from Intel, the sale must have been from an authorized Intel seller.
Hopefully your reputable dealer will accept it.

Well, I guess I will have to find out. I honestly never dealt with this before, so I really have no idea what the legalities of it are. They do have a return process via their website, so I will just send it in and see what happens.

Did you notice anything about the packaging that might have indicated that it had been opened before?

Hmmm. The way this CPU is packaged, it would be hard to tell. If I remember correctly, this round silver box that the CPU comes in is not sealed in any way, you simply twist to open it. And around that was just some cardboard you could also simply take apart.

Link to this?

Here is the product link: https://www.alternate.de/Intel/Core-i9-14900KS-Prozessor/html/product/100044072
(Germany based, so website is in German though)

 

[geofelt]

The box for the Intel 14900KS includes the words "special edition"
https://www.newegg.com/p/1B4-008A-0...MIneiDgqSKjQMVZZtaBR00Gyp0EAQYASABEgKAu_D_BwE

On your link, the photo does not say that, even though it is purported to be a 14900KS

You may have been scammed, or it could just be lazy documentation.